Mark Falkenhan, 43, a member of the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company, was a member of Baltimore County’s career fire department from 1990 to 2006. He was most recently employed with the U.S. Secret Service.

Flames engulfed an entire apartment building at the Towson Crossing Apartments complex at 30 Dowling Circle at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. Fire Department spokeswoman Elise Armacost said at 7:20 p.m. that fire commanders had declared a mayday emergency involving the firefighter's injuries.

Baltimore County Fire Chief John J. Hohman identified the fallen firefighter as Falkenhan.

"I knew him personally. (I) met him on his first day on the job when he came to work with us. He was a friend and a great person," Hohman said Wednesday night.

Falkenhan served at many stations, including Woodlawn, Dundalk, Golden Ring, Essex, Eastview and Fullerton. He was a 23-year chief at Middle River Volunteer Rescue Company. He joined the Secret Service in 2006 to help train agents in search and rescue techniques.

"Mark worked way beyond his regular hours. He's the guy you could call in the middle of the night," said Division Chief Michael Robinson. "All you had to do was tell him you needed something done, and he got it done."

Robinson was a close friend of Falkenhan's. He said they trained other firefighters at the county's Fire Rescue Academy.

"We'll memorialize Mark as a fireman's firefighter, and for being a man who was truly dedicated," Robinson said. "We'll remember him for all of those positive things."

Hohman said preliminary information indicated that a fire ignited in a basement kitchen, but conditions were too intense for firefighters to enter the building immediately.

"The fire was knocked and crews moved to the second and third floors to search for any possible victims," Hohman said. "A flashover occurred. One firefighter escaped successfully, one firefighter succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and passed away."

Firefighters pulled residents out of the burning building as witnesses watched helplessly as firefighters tried to rescue two people trapped on the second floor.

"We went up on the balcony and we said, 'Oh my gosh, the whole building's on fire from the bottom up all the way to the third floor,'" said Hillary Lyons, a resident. "My husband and I saw somebody being dragged out of the building (with) a firefighter on each leg, each arm as they laid him on the ground. His body was just limp."

"Smoke was coming out of the building next to us. About five seconds later, a big ball of fire came right out the front door," said Paul Trageser, a resident. "They tried to get a big handle on this fire and they couldn't."

Fire officials said a person was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital's burn center in Baltimore, and another person was taken to Sinai Hospital with unknown injuries.

An investigation continued Wednesday night as firefighters went door to door to check on the conditions of neighboring apartments.

"We have an inherently dangerous profession," Hohman said. "We will pull together and we will make certain that all our procedures were followed, and if not, (we will identify) what we can learn from this."

"It's a tragedy this man died in the line of duty saving lives," said county Executive Kevin Kamenetz. "It's a sad day for Baltimore County, but we're very appreciative of our firefighters and their efforts and the job that they did fighting this fire, and we're very sad for this loss that we have suffered."

Karen McAlonen, vice president of property operations for Morgan Properties, the owner of the complex, released a statement Wednesday evening, stating, "We are deeply saddened to hear the news regarding the fatality of the Baltimore County volunteer firefighter who responded to the scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the friends of this brave individual who responded to the scene to assist others in need."

A firefighter had not died while engaged in firefighting operations in Baltimore County since the Shiller’s furniture store fire in Dundalk 26 years ago, where three firefighters were lost.

"It was just plain horrible," Trageser said. "I've never seen anything like this in my life."

Falkenhan is survived by his wife, Gladys, and two children, 14 and 5.

Funeral Arrangements Set

Funeral arrangements were established Thursday for the fallen firefighter.

A viewings will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Ruhl Armory at 1035 York Rd. in Towson.

A funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen at 5200 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. Interment will follow at Dulaney Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or the Baltimore County Fallen Firefighters Foundation.